Entrepreneurship

October 8, 2025 | Claire Hall

Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation Recognized as a Global Leader in Venture Creation

The award honors a university center that demonstrates excellence in supporting the launch and growth of startups

From left: Alycia Chrosniak, CCEI's assistant director of brand and venture development, and Jennifer Mathieu, CCEI's executive director, were on hand for the award ceremony in Calgary.

From left: Alycia Chrosniak, CCEI's assistant director of brand and venture development, and Jennifer Mathieu, CCEI's executive director, were on hand for the award ceremony in Calgary (Photo courtesy of Cosmo Photobooths)

UConn’s Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CCEI) has received the Outstanding Contributions to Venture Creation Award at the 2025 Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers Conference in Calgary, Canada.

The award honors a university center that demonstrates excellence in supporting the launch and growth of startups through innovative programs such as competitions, incubators, and accelerators. Selection is based on program impact, outcomes, and community engagement.

“This award is a testament to the incredible students, faculty, alumni, and partners who make UConn such a vibrant place for innovation,” says Jennifer Mathieu, executive director. “We are honored to be recognized among the world’s leading university entrepreneurship programs, and this achievement reflects the dedication and creativity of the entire UConn community.”

CCEI has supported 1,232 venture teams since 2015, and those companies have raised more than $534 million in follow-on funding. Among the successful enterprises are:

  • onewith swimwear founder Hayley Segar presented her company on ABC’s ‘Shark Tank’ in January and landed a deal with two sharks;
  • Phoenix Tailings, a clean-mining technology business, has closed $76 million in Series B funding;
  • Medical startup Soleia Bioscience is working on a pain medication that may eliminate the need for opioids after surgery;
  • Online marketplace WheelPrice, which facilitates the sale of new, used and vintage wheels, is growing quickly;
  • Bastion Health is revolutionizing men’s healthcare with the first and largest virtual urology group in the country; and
  • Feel Your Best Self uses puppets, videos, stories and more to teach young children important emotional-coping strategies.

The Global Consortium is headquartered at Rice University and it is the premier academic organization of entrepreneurship centers, with hundreds of member universities worldwide. In addition to CCEI, The Entrepreneurship Institute at King’s College London was also recognized for its new business development.

The Consortium brings together leaders in entrepreneurship education from across the globe to share best practices, launch new initiatives, and strengthen efforts to empower the next generation of entrepreneurs. This year’s theme, Resiliency and Inclusivity in Innovation, highlighted entrepreneurship as a driver of positive impact worldwide.

“What makes the Consortium so special is the exchange of ideas and the shared commitment to helping entrepreneurs thrive. Presenting our programs and learning from other top centers around the world has been instrumental in strengthening CCEI’s impact here at UConn and across Connecticut,” says Alycia Chrosniak, CCEI’s assistant director for venture development.

CCEI offers a robust collection of programs, catering to everyone from novices to serial entrepreneurs, including Get Seeded, Accelerate UConn (NSF I-Corps Program), Summer Fellowship Accelerator, The Wolff New Venture Competition, and the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans.